GLIFL announces first franchise

The Great Lakes Indoor Football League is pleased to announce it first official franchise, the Lehigh Valley Outlawz.

The Outlawz are brand new to the indoor game. However, the franchise is not new to football. Outlawz owner James DePaul also operates the Philly Outlawz of the LaBelle Community Football League. The team has been a success in the semi-pro LCFL, going 8-6 in 2004. The Outlawz will begin their second LCFL season in September.

Lehigh Valley will play its games at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Stabler Arena has held public events for the Lehigh Valley since 1979, and will now play host to its first professional indoor football team. Stabler won the "Arena of the Year" award in 1988, and has been nominated for this Performance Magazine award on eight separate occasions by its readers.

The GLIFL is excited to have Lehigh Valley as its first official franchise. Founding partner Jeff Spitaleri notes, "The GLIFL is excited to be reaching a deal with the Outlawz to play in our Inaugural Season. We have spent many hours talking with Mr. DePaul and other team representatives and believe that they share the same goal as us in regards to the GLIFL. We want a fan friendly, family-themed atmosphere at all of our events and they have assured us that they are looking for the same."

Likewise, Lehigh Valley Outlawz owner James DePaul is excited to be a part of the GLIFL. "I have been working with Mr. Spitaleri for a while and have decided to enter that Lehigh Valley Outlawz into the GLIFL. The deciding factor was the idea that the league office was not associated with a team in the league. This offers us the fairest competing environment that we can find."

The GLIFL would also like to announce that there will be two more market agreements announced on Thursday. Keep checking the GLIFL website for league information.